Train to Charlestown

Photo from the train.

After a four-hour train ride we putz around Charlestown, a beautifully preserved Georgian port. It started out as a small fishing harbor and was eventually built up to export copper from nearby mines and import coal. When the coal mining industry fell, the port was used to transport china clay. The long basin, which enabled larger sailing ships to safely moor and unload cargo, was cut from solid bedrock. As the china clay industry grew, merchants started setting up workshops for curing pilchard, burning lime, making rope and bricks, and shipbuilding.

Quite a few movies were filmed here, including Poldark and Mansfield Park. Even though it totally has the feel of a film set, it's still a working port.

The door on the right, with the sign above, is a tiny tiny pub.

We try several varieties of rum and gin.